Beyond Ritualism: Impact and Implications of Ḥajj on the Society of Pakistan

Ḥajj―an annual Islamic congregation―is a supreme manifestation of Faith (Imān) in which muslims assemble to pronounce explicitly their subservience and loyalty to Almighty Allah alone. Besides freeing themselves from the squalor of Shirk, Muslims satiate their souls with the feelings of ‘Faith’ and ‘Unity.’ This fact is purely accomplished when the Muslims shed off their outer difference by donning the dress of unity (Iḥrām). Ḥajj is a perfect blend between ‘Creator’ and ‘creature’, ‘soul’ and ‘spirit’ on the one hand and an enduring and invaluable expression physically, socially, and materially on the other. From this pragmatic Institution, Pakistan―one of the premier countries of the Islamic world―can derive unprecedented benefits politically, socially, and economically. One of the important objectives of the paper is to describe the significance of Ḥajj to the people of Pakistan. In so doing, the paper examines and explores, objectively and analytically, the institution of Ḥajj and its implications on the Muslim world, particularly Pakistan. The first section of the paper, “Ḥajj―At a Glance”, presents meaning and historical background of Ḥajj. The second section “Revitalizing the Ḥajj”, besides presenting the revitalization of the Institution by the final Messenger (peace be upon him) also gives an overview of some of the very important rituals to be realized (during Ḥajj). The subsequent sections, “Socio-Economic Dimension of Ḥajj” and “Ḥajj―Implications and Impact on the Society of Pakistan”, describe respectively the socio-economic impact and leverage of the Ḥajj on the Muslim world in general and on Pakistan in particular. The study is followed by “Conclusion” wherein it has been argued that the Ḥajj can bring an immense transformation and positivity in a country if its sweetness is sought in all earnestness.

Pigeonpea Green Manuring and Nitrogen Effect on Wheat

Production of quality cereal food grains in adequate quantity to cope with the demand of growing population (> 3% especially in Asia) and maintaining the soil fertility, productivity and quality have been the query of objective for these studies. It is one of the challenges in the currently ongoing agriculture scenario that sole and excessive use of chemical fertilizers for rapid and massive crop production is reducing soil fertility, productivity and quality. Fertilizers application is causing health and environmental hazards and climate change due to global warming also increased threats to agriculture production. Researchers are trying to find alternate, indigenous, organic and comparable economic sources of nitrogen rather than synthetic chemical sources. A field experiment to evaluate the effect of pigeonpea green manuring on performance and the subsequent nitrogen fertilizer requirement of wheat crop, was conducted at the Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during 2013-14 and 2014-15. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements having four replications. Wheat variety Atta Habib at 120 kg ha-1 was sown in the experimental plots and advance lines of pigeonpea were sown for green manure. Five pigeonpea green manuring levels at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days post emergence were planted to main plots, whereas 5 nitrogen levels 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha-1 were assigned to sub plots. All the data collected for various parameters were analyzed to explain the variations among the applied treatments. The integration of pigeonpea as green manure increased wheat yield and its related components. Green manuring at 90 and 120 days post emergence showed increase in emergence m-2, number of leaves tiller-1, leaf area tiller-1, leaf area index, productive tillers m-2, days to anthesis, days to maturity, plant height, number of grains spike-1, thousand grains weight, biological yield, grain yield, soil organic matter, concentration of soil nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. On the other side non-productive tillers m-2, soil pH and soil bulk density showed decreasing trend with green manuring. Less days to tillering (55.1 and 55.5), non-productive tillers (15.8 and .15.7), soil .pH (7.62), soil bulk density (1.42 gcm-3) as compare to no green manuring. Harvest index and soil electrical conductivity were not affected by green manuring. Nitrogen application at 90 and 120 kg.ha.-1 increased number of leaves tiller-1 (5.9 and 6.0), leaf area tiller-1 (123.8 and 128.2 cm2), leaf area index (3.2 and 3.3), days to anthesis (119), days to maturity (159 and 160), productive tillers m-2 (233.1 and 236.3), plant height (102.3 and 102.5 cm), number of grains spike-1 (53.8 and 54.8), thousand grains weight (41.8 and 43.8 g), biological yield (10248 and 10674 kgha-1), grain yield (3601 and 3766 kgha-1) and concentration of total soil nitrogen in soil (0.084 and 0.086 %) compared to lower rates. While decrease in days to tillering (57) and number of unproductive tillers m-2 (16.7 and 15.2) were measured with application of nitrogen at high rates, increase in days to tillering and number of unproductive tillers m-2 were found with less or no application of nitrogen fertilizer. Emergence m.-2, harvest index, soil electrical conductivity, soil .pH, soil organic .matter, soil phosphorus, soil potassium and soil bulk density showed no significant effect with nitrogen fertilizer application. Year as source of variation showed considerable increase for leaf area tiller-1 (121.7 cm2), leaf area index (3.2), productive tillers m-2 (225.0), thousand grains weight (38.8 .g), plant height (99.9 cm), biological yield (9135 kg.ha.-1), organic matter (0.95 %), phosphorus (3.41 mg kg-1) and potassium (121.20mg kg-1) and unproductive tillers (17.6), soil .pH (7.72) and soil bulk density (1.45 gcm-3) during the second year. In case of interactive effect of green manuring and nitrogen fertilizer application, with 90 days post emergence pigeonpea green manuring along with 90 kg nitrogen ha-1 improved wheat vegetative growth and economic yield, soil quality and maximum economic benefit. Conclusively, the incorporation of green manures 90 days post emergence integrated with 90 kgNha-1 produced net income of Rs.1,88729/-ha.-1 as the best combination for grain yield of wheat. It is concluded from the current observations that 90 days post emerged green manures combined with 90 kg N ha-1 are the best for sustainable wheat production and which could be an environment friendly approach as well as economical for the farmers.